Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority

What Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority does

Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority (SMAA) is an independent Florida government entity that operates Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ), a regional commercial airport serving the Sarasota-Bradenton metropolitan area in southwest Florida. Established in 1940, SMAA runs a single terminal facility at 6000 Rick Piccolo Circle in Sarasota, with 51 employees and a route network spanning 35 nonstop destinations served by eight airline partners: Allegiant Air, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Breeze Airways, Avelo Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Sun Country Airlines. SMAA closed calendar year 2025 with record passenger traffic exceeding 4.5 million travelers, with March 2025 setting an all-time monthly record at 597,796 passengers.

The authority's core technology and infrastructure comprises the main terminal with adjacent short- and long-term parking, a ticket wing, baggage claim, main concourse, and the newly opened Concourse A — a 75,300 sq ft, five-gate expansion with a four-lane security checkpoint. Additional on-airport capabilities include a wholly owned fire department upgraded to Advanced Life Support (ALS) services in July 2025, accessibility and special-needs services including the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program, a terminal map and navigation product, and real-time flight information services. Industrial and general aviation tenancy has expanded with Sheltair's new facility (groundbreaking May 2024) and Pilatus Aircraft's flagship U.S. manufacturing facility (groundbreaking January 2026).

SMAA generates revenue through five principal streams: passenger facility charges and departure fees, airline landing fees, terminal-adjacent parking operations, concessions and retail commissions (including food and beverage operators such as Jimmy John's), and car rental commissions. Distribution is direct to travelers through the terminal and the flysrq.com digital channel, with airlines functioning as channel partners that sell tickets and operate flights. SMAA is governed by a board, is not owned by a parent company or private equity sponsor, and is not listed on any exchange.

Name

Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority

Legal name

Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority

Website

https://srq-airport.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1940

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority is an independent Florida government entity operating Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ), a regional commercial airport serving 4.5 million+ annual passengers across 35 nonstop destinations and eight airline partners from a single terminal complex in Sarasota, Florida.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sarasota

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Passenger Facility Charges and Fees: Revenue generated from fees charged to passengers using airport facilities, including facility charges and departure fees.
2. Landing Fees: Fees charged to airlines for landing at the airport, contributing to operational costs and infrastructure maintenance.
3. Parking Operations: Revenue from short-term and long-term parking facilities located adjacent to the main terminal.
4. Concessions and Retail: Revenue from dining options, retail shops, and other concessions within the terminal including Jimmy John's and other food/beverage locations.
5. Car Rental Services: Revenue from car rental operations located at the airport facility.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority operates Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ), a regional commercial airport providing passenger terminal services, parking facilities, ground transportation coordination, and aviation infrastructure. The airport authority manages airline partnerships, terminal operations, and ancillary services for travelers in the Sarasota-Bradenton region of Florida, serving over 4.5 million passengers annually across 35 nonstop destinations.

Product overview

Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority operates Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) as a regional passenger airport providing flight information, ground transportation, parking, and terminal navigation services. The airport's product portfolio includes core traveler services such as real-time flight status tracking, parking facilities, accessibility services (including the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program), security information, and dining/shopping options. The airport serves multiple airline partners offering nonstop routes to destinations across North America, with recent expansion including a new Concourse A terminal expansion with 5 gates covering 75,300 sq ft.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Flight Information Services Real-time arrival and departure information, flight status tracking, and airline directories for travelers using Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.
• Ground Transportation Services Information and coordination for ground transportation options including car rentals, rideshare, taxis, and public transit connections at the airport.
• Parking Services Short-term and long-term parking lots adjacent to the main terminal, including cell phone lot and holiday discount parking options at the off-site location at 8101 North Tamiami Trail.
• Concourse A Terminal Expansion

Quantifiable outcome

• 3.05% passenger growth in December 2025 vs prior year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor, standard and core.

• Pilatus AircraftmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 January 2026Pilatus Aircraft broke ground on their new flagship U.S. facility at SRQ in January 2026. This investment represents a major economic win for the region, with the state-of-the-art facility bringing aviation manufacturing and economic growth to the airport vicinity.
• American AirlinesmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 3 November 2025American Airlines launched daily nonstop service to Miami (MIA) beginning November 3, 2025, on 76-seat Embraer 175 jets. Previously announced daily service to New York City (LGA) beginning November 5, 2024, as their sixth nonstop destination from SRQ.
• Southwest Florida Honor FlightminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2025SRQ successfully hosted its first Southwest Florida Honor Flight (Mission XXIII) on October 14, 2025, transporting 90 local veterans on a one-day journey to Washington D.C. to visit war memorials.
• Breeze AirwaysmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 20 November 2024Breeze Airways operates service to multiple destinations from SRQ including Portland (ME), Akron-Canton (OH), Long Island-Islip (NY), New Haven (CT), Westchester (NY), Raleigh-Durham (NC), Richmond (VA), and BreezeThru service to Syracuse (NY). The airline celebrated its first full month of operating profit in March 2024.
• Frontier AirlinesstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 27 August 2024Frontier Airlines announced nonstop service from SRQ to Cincinnati (CVG), adding another low-cost carrier option for travelers.
• SheltairmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Sheltair broke ground on a new facility at SRQ in May 2024. Sheltair is a leading provider of aviation services.
• Avelo AirlinesstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 November 2023Avelo Airlines provides nonstop service to Philadelphia (ILG) and Raleigh-Durham (RDU) from SRQ. The airline announced its initial SRQ service in August 2023.
• Southwest AirlinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 14 February 2021Southwest Airlines began operating at SRQ on February 14, 2021. The airport celebrated five years of Southwest service in February 2026, marking a significant milestone in the airline's regional presence.
• Sun Country AirlinesstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 22 August 2019Sun Country Airlines operates seasonal service from Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP) to SRQ with fares as low as $79 one-way.
• Allegiant AircoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2018Allegiant Air is a major airline partner at SRQ, having served 5 million passengers since 2018. The airline has continuously expanded service, announcing 35th nonstop destination (Toledo, OH) and adding new routes including Albany, Elmira, Greenville, Knoxville, Lexington, Moline, Omaha, and Roanoke. Allegiant celebrated this milestone as part of SRQ's new Concourse A opening.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport (Pinellas County): Nearby Tampa Bay regional airport with similar passenger profile, ULCC exposure, and tourism-driven demand. Competes for some of the same Florida Gulf Coast leisure traffic.
• Mobile Airport Authority: Independent airport authority operating a mid-size regional airport serving a Gulf Coast catchment, with a comparable mix of leisure/business traffic and recent terminal expansion activity.
• Lehigh Valley International Airport (Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority): Mid-size U.S. regional airport authority with comparable passenger volumes and a mix of legacy and ULCC service. Useful comp for non-Florida regional airport economics.
• Jacksonville Aviation Authority: Florida-based independent airport authority operating multiple airports including Jacksonville International. Similar governance structure, mid-sized regional operations, and diversified carrier relationships.
• Punta Gorda Airport (Charlotte County Airport Authority): Mid-size Florida regional airport authority serving a similar leisure/tourist catchment and heavily dependent on Allegiant Air. Closest direct comparably-sized peer in terms of traffic base, route network, and ULCC exposure.

Regional players

• Southwest Florida International Airport (Lee County Port Authority): Fort Myers-based regional airport authority serving a similar Florida Gulf Coast tourism catchment with overlapping airline partners and parallel economic-development mandate.
• Palm Beach International Airport: Florida regional airport serving a similar mix of leisure and business travelers, with comparable passenger throughput and ULCC/legacy carrier mix.
• Tampa International Airport (Hillsborough County Aviation Authority): Larger Florida Gulf Coast airport also operated by an independent aviation authority. Comparable in business model and Florida tourism exposure, but significantly larger in scale and route network.

Broad incumbents

• Greater Orlando Aviation Authority: Larger Florida airport authority operating Orlando International. Significantly larger in scale, but comparable business model and exposure to Florida tourism demand.

Others

• Sheltair Aviation: Major FBO operator breaking ground on a new SRQ facility. Comparable as an aviation services tenant at commercial airports and a relevant counterparty for the airport's private aviation/FBO segment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sarasotamanateeairportauthority

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority